Add an upright freezer if you mainly need more room for portions you reach for often. Consider a chest freezer for a large stock of food that you open less frequently, provided you have a suitable spot for it. If your fridge is also too small and you only need a modest amount of extra freezer space, compare the capacities of larger fridge-freezers instead. In every case, check the usable capacity, the space needed to open the door or lid, energy consumption and the model’s power-cut storage time.
If you regularly take out containers or bags, easy-to-reach storage may matter more than the stated capacity alone. An upright freezer lets you organise portions in drawers; check how easy the model is to clean, too.
A chest freezer can provide plenty of storage for large packs that you open less often. Allow for its floor space, room to open the lid and access to food at the bottom. UFC-Que Choisir distinguishes the large capacities available with chest freezers from the more organised storage of upright models.
If you also need more room for fresh food, compare a larger fridge-freezer with adding a separate freezer. Check the capacity of each compartment individually: a higher total capacity does not guarantee the freezer space you need.
Consider it: if you often need to find portions stored in drawers.
Bear in mind: check that the drawers can fit your bulkiest packs.
Consider it: if you want to store large grocery shops and open the freezer less often.
Bear in mind: food at the bottom may be harder to find.
Consider it: if both the fridge and freezer compartments are too small.
Bear in mind: make sure the freezer capacity is enough for your shopping and batch-cooked meals.
Once you’ve chosen a style, compare models suited to the amount you want to store and the room where they’ll be installed.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and access | Compare the usable capacity in litres with the containers you usually use. Check the drawers, baskets or compartments, then measure the appliance and the clearance needed to open its door or lid. | I want to find my portions without moving everything else, or store large packs without blocking access to other food. |
| Power cuts and new shopping | Compare the stated storage time in hours and freezing capacity in kg/24 h for each model. UFC-Que Choisir also tests how well models stay cold during a power cut as a separate measure. | When I get home with lots of food to freeze, the model’s ability to handle a new load matters as much as the food it already stores. |
| Energy use and noise | The European energy label uses a scale from A to G. Compare kWh/year for appliances of a similar type and capacity, and check their noise level if the room is in regular use. | An appliance that runs continuously needs to suit the space I have as well as my expectations for energy use and noise. |
| Room and maintenance | Check that the stated ambient temperature range for the model covers the temperature of the room. Find out how it defrosts and how easy it is to access the inside for cleaning. | If I’m installing it in an unheated garage or utility room, I need to choose a model designed to work at that room’s temperatures. |
A spacious chest freezer can still be awkward if the lid can’t open fully or the food you use every day ends up at the bottom.
Measure the space and the clearance needed, then work out where you’ll keep everyday portions and larger packs.
The energy rating letter doesn’t tell you the annual energy consumption of each appliance, especially when capacities differ.
Compare the kWh/year shown on the labels of models with a similar capacity and format, while also considering usable capacity and noise.
The temperature in an unheated room may fall outside the ambient temperature range the appliance is designed for.
Check the product details and manual for the exact model before choosing this location. A feature advertised for one model does not necessarily apply to other models from the same brand.
Upright and chest freezers don’t have a fixed storage time based on their shape: this figure varies by model.
Compare the stated hours for the models you’re considering and, where available, independent test results. If you often add large quantities of food, check the freezing capacity separately.
Worth considering if you’re looking for an upright freezer organised around accessible drawers and compartments.
Its chest freezers are worth a look if storage capacity and how the lid works are key to your decision.
Its chest and upright freezer product details make it easy to compare installation requirements and storage times for individual models.
This selection includes upright and chest freezers for extra frozen storage. Compare their capacities with the portions you prepare or the amount you buy in bulk. If your fridge is also too small, consider a larger fridge-freezer as a separate option.
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An upright freezer to consider if you’d like to separate portions across several drawers. The product title lists No Frost protection, a reversible hinged door, an alarm and a C energy rating. Check its dimensions before deciding where to put it, and compare its kWh/year and storage time during a power cut.
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This chest freezer is listed with a basket, a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating, making it an option for extra storage. Check that you can reach food at the bottom and open the lid fully. Also compare its storage time during a power cut, annual energy consumption and freezing capacity for the amount you plan to add after shopping.
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At 60 L, this model is better suited to providing extra freezer space than storing a large stock of food. The product title lists drawers, a reversible door and an E energy rating. Check that your containers fit in the storage compartments, then compare its storage time during a power cut and kWh/year with the other options you’re considering.
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This 99 L chest freezer with a removable basket could provide extra storage if its capacity suits your shopping. The product title lists a sliding lid and an E energy rating. The description recommends manual defrosting when frost exceeds 5 mm. Also check access to the bottom, kWh/year and storage time during a power cut.
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This 98 L chest freezer with a basket offers extra storage to compare with the amount you actually buy. Its title mentions a counterbalanced lid and an E energy rating. Measure the clearance needed to open it and check the model’s dimensions, storage time during a power cut, kWh/year and freezing capacity.
No. Its capacity, location and access to food all need to suit your habits. UFC-Que Choisir notes that chest freezers can offer large capacities of up to 600 l, but an upright freezer with drawers may be more convenient if you often take out small portions.
Compare kWh/year for appliances of a similar type and capacity, then check the storage capacity and noise level. The European Commission states that the energy label for domestic fridges and freezers has used a scale from A to G since 1 March 2021. The letter alone doesn’t tell you everything you need to know for your particular use.
No. The ambient temperature range stated in the product details or manual needs to cover the temperature in your garage. For example, Beko lists a minimum ambient temperature of -15 °C for the HSM27050; this feature doesn’t apply to every model.
No. Compare models individually. Beko lists 41 h for the HSM27050 chest freezer and 9 h for the B1RFNE314W upright freezer, but these two examples don’t establish a general rule for chest and upright freezers. UFC-Que Choisir also measures how well models stay cold during a power cut in its tests.